Sunrise, regret and shame follow us forever and your conversation enable your parents to say something that I think has been on their minds a long time. When our kids are grown, we have lots of time for reflection and an ability to be more honest with ourselves because the child is grown now, we don't have to figure out what to 'do' about our parenting, just be brave to take a look at it.

I think this was a gift you gave them, the ability to say out loud something that they may not have even realized at the time, when you were 4 1/2, but may have realized much much later.